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Biomedical subjects

H Urano

Publications and source records attributed to H Urano.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

A clinicopathologic study of gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma.

BACKGROUND: It is still unclear which patients with gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma will benefit from the eradication of Helicobacter pylori. METHODS: The authors studied a total of 34 patients. Twenty-three patients had primary gastric lymphoma and underwent gastric resection as initial treatment. Eleven patients with gastric MALT lymphoma who received antibiotics against H. pylori as initial treatment were also included. In all 34 patients, the presence of H. pylori, endoscopic findings, and pathologic features were evaluated. Immunohistochemical expression of Bcl-2, p53, and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) was classified as follows: (-), no reactive cells; (+), scattered positive cells; (2+), nests of positive cells; (3+), diffuse positive cells. RESULTS: Patients with low grade MALT lymphoma (LG) tended to be positive for H. pylori (6 of 9), to localize within the submucosa (7 of 9), not to have lymph node involvement (7 of 8), and to have lower tumor stage compared with patients with high grade MALT components (HG). Bcl-2 protein was expressed with high frequency by LG (7 of 9). Strong expression of p 53 was more common in the HG tumors (4 of 14), and strong expression of PCNA showed a significant difference between LG (1 of 8) and HG patients (12 of 13). Investigation of the patients with long term follow-up (n = 4) revealed that LG remained superficial for a long time and showed gradual progression. Most of these tumors were Bcl-2+/p53-approximately+/-/ PCNA- approximately +. There were two patients whose superficial LG (sm/Bcl-2+/p53-/PCNA- approximately +) regressed after the disappearance of H. pylori. On the other hand, one patient developed ulcerated LG (sm/Bcl-2 /p53+/PCNA3+) after disappearance of H. pylori. The authors found complete regression of MALT lymphoma in 9 of 11 patients after H. pylori eradication. Initial tumors of these 9 patients were superficial/sm/n(-)/low grade/Bcl-2+approximately +/-/p53-approximately+ (n = 9), /PCNA-approximately+(n = 6), /PCNA 2+ (n = 3). Two local recurrence and one non-Hodgkin lymphoma in other sites were observed after initial therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Gastric MALT lymphoma with (H. pylori positive/superficial/sm/low grade/Bcl-2 +/p53- approximately +/PCNA- approximately +) pattern will disappear after a patient is cured of H. pylori infection.

Adult↗

[Progress in research of the blood coagulation system].

Blood coagulation is an amplification system consisting of reactions between enzymes and zymogens. It has been illustrated as a cascade model. However, the exact mechanism by which haemostasis is achieved under physiological conditions remains to be clarified. The solving of structure-function relation of each coagulation factor, analysis of the enzymological characteristics of each reaction, analysis of the regulation mechanism of the reactions and identification of novel factors involved in coagulation reactions contribute to the understanding of this complex system. Based on these findings, some new conceptions of blood coagulation are proposed. In the model introduced in this review, the extrinsic pathway and the intrinsic pathway of the 'classical' cascade model of the blood coagulation system could not be separated, and the suppression of fibrinolysis by TAFI (thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor) during coagulation reactions is thought to be a critical process for effective haemostasis.

Blood Coagulation↗

Thrombin in the airways of asthmatic patients.

The mechanism of airway remodeling in asthmatic patients is poorly understood. Thrombin is a multifunctional protease that, in addition to its critical role in thrombotic processes, has also been described as inducing cellular and molecular events relevant to tissue remodeling. The present investigation was undertaken to evaluate the activity of thrombin in the sputum of asthmatic patients and its potential role in airway remodeling. The study population comprised 8 healthy subjects and 14 stable patients with bronchial asthma. The concentrations of thrombin, thrombin-antithrombin complex (TAT), and tissue factor were measured in the sputum of all subjects. The concentrations of thrombin (p = 0. 007), TAT (p = 0.01), and tissue factor (p = 0.02) in sputum were significantly higher in asthmatic patients than in healthy controls. The proliferative effects that sputum from asthmatic patients (p = 0. 01) and thrombin (p = 0.03) have on cultured human smooth muscle cells was inhibited significantly in the presence of recombinant hirudin, a specific thrombin inhibitor. Significant statistical correlation was observed between the degree of bronchial responsiveness and the sputum concentrations of thrombin (r = -0.8; p = 0.02) and TAT (r = -0.9; p = 0.01). The results of this study showed that increased thrombin generation occurs in the airway of patients with asthma and that it may play a role in the pathogenesis of airway remodeling. Further studies should be carried out to assess whether these findings are also observed in other airway diseases.

Antithrombin III↗

The utility of endoscopic ultrasonography and endoscopy in the endoscopic mucosal resection of early gastric cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To clarify the usefulness of endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) and endoscopy in the endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) of early gastric cancer. Patients/Methods-EMR was performed in 61 patients with early gastric cancer over the past five years. The accuracy of the assessment of the depth of cancerous invasion was studied in 49 patients who had EUS before EMR. Forty eight patients were treated with endoscopy alone; in these patients, EUS and endoscopic findings correlated with the clinical course. RESULTS: Forty six patients showed no changes in the submucosal layer or deeper structures on EUS. Pathologically these included 37 patients with mucosal cancer and nine with submucosal cancer showing very slight submucosal infiltration. Three patients showed diffuse low echo changes in the submucosal layer on EUS; pathologically, these included two with submucosal cancer and one with mucosal cancer with a peptic ulcer scar within the tumour focus. Of 48 patients receiving endoscopic treatment alone, 45 showed no tumour recurrence or evidence of metastases on EUS and endoscopy. Three cases of recurrence were observed. Two of these patients had a surgical gastrectomy, and one was re-treated endoscopically. In the former cases, the surgical results correlated well with assessment by EUS and endoscopy. In addition, the latter patient who was re-treated endoscopically after evaluation with EUS and endoscopy has so far had no recurrence. CONCLUSION: The combined use of EUS and endoscopy is effective in diagnosing the depth of cancerous invasion in patients undergoing EMR as well as in clarifying changes both within and between anatomic levels during follow up.

Aged↗

Adenosine regulates tissue factor expression on endothelial cells.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the inhibitory activity of adenosine on tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF), thrombin-, or phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-induced tissue factor (TF) expression on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). This inhibitory effect of adenosine was found to be counteracted by the non-selective adenosine receptor (AR) antagonist, 8-(p-sulfophenyl) theophylline. To clarify the role of ARs (A1, A2a, A2b, and A3) in this regulation, we evaluated the effect of several agonists and antagonists specific for AR-subclass on TF expression. The selective A2aAR agonist, 2-p-(2-carboxyethyl) phenethylamino-5'-N-ethylcarboxamido adenosine hydrochloride (CGS 21680), the A3AR agonist, N6-2-(4-aminophenyl) ethyladenosine (APNEA), and the A1AR antagonist, 1,3-dipropyl-8-(2-amino-4-chlorophenyl) xanthine (PACPX) each inhibited TF activity expression induced by TNF, thrombin, or PMA on HUVECs. In contrast, the selective A1AR agonist, chloro-N6-cyclopentyladenosine (CCPA) and the A2AR antagonist, 3,7-dimethyl-1-propargylxanthine (DMPX) enhanced each stimulant-induced TF activity expression. All agonist or antagonist alone did not alter the basal TF expression on HUVECs. Our results suggest that stimulation of A2aAR and A3AR down-regulates and that of A1AR up-regulates the endothelial cell TF expression induced by TNF, PMA, or thrombin. Thus, it appears that adenosine itself may exert anticoagulant activity on vascular endothelial cells via its A2a and A3 receptors, particularly during ischemic or atherosclerotic processes which are known to be associated with local increased levels of adenosine.

Adenosine↗

Aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma after successful eradication of Helicobacter pylori and regression of gastric lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue.

A 57-year-old woman presented to our clinic with low-grade gastric lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (stage IE) and Helicobacter pylori infection. She received a 2-week course of omeprazole and clarithromycin, resulting in eradication of H. pylori and histological disappearance of the lymphoma. However, 9 months later (May 1996), multiple mass lesions were found around the pancreas and hepato-duodenal ligament on abdominal computed tomography. Inguinal lymph node biopsy revealed aggressive nodal type B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, diffuse large cell type. She received chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide, adriamycin, vincristine, and prednisolone, but failed to achieve remission and died in December 1996. There was no evidence of recurrent gastric lymphoma. This case emphasizes the importance of performing follow-up examinations to detect other neoplasms in patients with gastric lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue.

Diagnosis, Differential↗

Prothrombin and its derivatives stimulate motility of melanoma cells.

Several studies indicated that activation of the clotting system may promote the growth and the invasive behavior of tumor cells. In the present study, we evaluated the migratory response of various melanoma cell lines to several clotting factors and prothrombin derivatives (thrombin, fragment 1, fragment 2 and kringle 1 fragment). Prothrombin, thrombin and fragment 1 stimulated chemotaxis of the murine (K-1735 M2, X21) and human A375 (SM) melanoma cell lines. Prothrombin and prothrombin fragment 1 showed their maximal chemotactic activity at 0.5 approximately 1 microM. Chemotaxis induced by thrombin was inhibited by hirudin, but not that induced by prothrombin or fragment 1. Other clotting proteins and the fragment 2 and kringle 1 fragment of prothrombin did not elicit chemotactic activity. Checkerboard analysis indicated that motility was directional with a significant chemokinetic component. The K-1735 M2 cells also migrated in a concentration-dependent manner to substratum-bound insoluble prothrombin, thrombin or fragment 1. Ligand binding assays showed that both prothrombin and fragment 1 bound to K-1735 M2 cells with apparent Kds of 0.5 microM. This binding was inhibited by an excess concentration of unlabeled prothrombin and fragment 1 but not by similar concentrations of other prothrombin fragments. These findings suggest that prothrombin and its fragment 1 exert chemotactic activity on melanoma cells by different mechanisms and different binding sites from that induced by thrombin.

Animals↗

Dilazep, an antiplatelet agent, inhibits tissue factor expression in endothelial cells and monocytes.

Dilazep, an antiplatelet agent, is generally used as an antithrombotic drug in clinical practice. Dilazep is also known to exert cytoprotective and antioxidant effects on endothelial cells. However, its effect on the endothelial or monocyte procoagulant activity is unknown. In the current study, the effect of dilazep on the expression of tissue factor (TF) in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) after the stimulation with tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF), thrombin, or phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) was evaluated. We also evaluated the effect of dilazep on TNF (1,000 U/mL)-induced TF expression on monocytes. Dilazep inhibited TF activity induced on HUVECs by each stimulant, TNF (1000 U/mL), thrombin (25 nmol/L), or PMA (5 nmol/L) in a dose-dependent fashion (1 to 100 microg/mL). TF activity decreased to approximately 10% after treating with 100 microg/mL of dilazep. Dilazep also blocked the expression of TF antigen induced by each stimulant on the surface of HUVECs as determined by flow cytometric analysis. In addition, in HUVECs, it significantly decreased the expression of TF mRNA and the total TF antigen induced by thrombin or PMA, but not those induced by TNF, suggesting that dilazep blocks the TF expression induced by PMA or thrombin at a transcriptional level and that induced by TNF at a posttranscriptional level. Western blot analysis showed that dilazep reduces the accumulation of native TF but increases that in lower molecular weight TF derivatives. The adenosine receptor antagonist, 8-(p-sulfophenyl) theophylline, partially counteracted the anticoagulant activity of dilazep on HUVECs, thereby suggesting that the inhibitory effect of dilazep on TF expression in HUVECs depends, at least in part, on its adenosine potentiating activity. Dilazep also inhibited TNF-induced TF expression on monocytes in a dose-dependent fashion (0.1 to 100 microg/mL). In brief, the current study showed for the first time that dilazep, a commonly used antiplatelet drug, strongly inhibits the TF expression in HUVECs and monocytes. Dilazep may have a potent therapeutic value in patients with hypercoagulable state for its inhibitory property on the procoagulant activity of endothelial cells and monocytes.

Adenosine↗

Increases of thrombomodulin activity and antigen level on human umbilical vein endothelial cells treated with asbestos and man-made mineral fibers.

The potential influences of crocidolite asbestos fibers and man made mineral fibers (potassium titanate whisker and magnesium sulfate whisker) on a procoagulant system of human umbilical vein-endothelial cells (HUVECs) were investigated by measuring the activity and antigen level of thrombomodulin (TM) on the cell surface. Statistically significant increases in both the TM activity and TM antigen level were observed on HUVECs treated with crocidolite asbestos fibers for 48 h and 72 h compared to untreated cells at low concentrations of the fibers which showed no sign of a cytotoxic effect on the cells. An extensive increase in both the TM activity and TM antigen level was also observed on HUVECs treated with potassium titanate whisker or magnesium sulfate whisker for 48 h and 72 h. A statistical analysis revealed that these fibers had almost the same effects on the increases in both TM activity and the TM antigen level of HUVECs treated with the fibers for 48 h and 72 h, but a treatment of magnesium sulfate whisker at more than 1.25 micrograms/ml for 24 h was slightly more effective in increasing TM activity on HUVECs compared to other fibers (p < 0.05). The [3H]leucine incorporation in HUVECs increased when the cells were treated with crocidolite asbestos or man-made mineral fibers (MMMFs), indicating that the increases in TM activity and the TM antigen level on HUVECs directly exposed to those fibers may not reflect the sole induction of anticoagulant activities, but the general cell damage induced by the fibers.

Air Pollutants, Occupational↗

The association of the platelet count and the peripheral CD8+ cell count in Japanese HIV-infected hemophiliacs.

To determine the factors involved in the pathogenesis of thrombocytopenia frequently found in human immuno-deficiency virus (HIV) infection, we studied the clinical and laboratory findings of 35 Japanese HIV-infected hemophiliacs regarding their association with thrombocytopenia. Seventeen HIV-positive patients were thrombocytopenic. They had fewer CD4+ cells and were in more advanced stages of the disease, compared with the 18 patients without thrombocytopenia. We carried out the stepwise regression analysis on 32 patients in the early stage of HIV infection, with the platelet count as the dependent variable, and with the CD8+ cell count, serum cholinesterase, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), CD4+ cell count and white blood cell count as explanatory variables. The CD8+ cell count, serum cholinesterase, and ALT were entered into the regression model as explanatory variables of the platelet count with statistical significance. A positive linear correlation in these 32 patients between the CD8+ cell count and platelet count (r = 0.50, P < 0.01) was noted. We conclude that the decrease of the CD8+ cell count may play a role in the pathogenesis of thrombocytopenia in Japanese hemophiliacs in the early stage of HIV-infection.

Adult↗

Transforming growth factor beta 1 and beta 2 induce down-modulation of thrombomodulin in human umbilical vein endothelial cells.

To investigate the effects of transforming growth factor-betas (TGF-betas) on endothelial anticoagulant activity, we assayed thrombomodulin (TM) activity and antigen levels of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) incubated with TGF-betas in vitro. TGF-beta 1 suppressed surface TM activity and surface TM antigen levels maximally 12 h after incubation in dose-dependent manners. TGF-beta 2 was almost equipotent with TGF-beta 1 for the suppression of them. Both TGF-betas suppressed total TM antigen level in HUVECs, and the time course of the suppression was similar to that of the cell surface TM antigen level. The maximal reductions of TM mRNA levels by TGF-betas were observed at several hours ahead of those observed in both surface and total TM antigens levels, suggesting that the TGF-beta-mediated suppression of TM antigen of HUVECs is primarily regulated at the TM mRNA level. Our present work suggests that the down-modulation of TM level induced by TGF-betas in HUVECs contributes in vivo to promoting the thrombogenesis either at the sites of injury of vessel walls, such as atherosclerotic lesions where TGF-beta 1 is released from platelets, smooth muscle cells and monocytes, or at neovascular walls in tumors secreting TGF-beta 2.

Cells, Cultured↗

Simultaneous high-performance liquid chromatographic determination of lornoxicam and its 5'-hydroxy metabolite in human plasma using electrochemical detection.

A selective and sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic method with coulometric detection is described for the simultaneous quantitation of lornoxicam, a new oxicam class drug, and its 5'-hydroxy metabolite in human plasma. The two analytes and the internal standard are extracted from plasma at pH 4.0 by liquid-liquid extraction and separated on a C18 column. Absolute detection limits using 100 microliters of plasma are found to be 5 and 10 ng/ml for lornoxicam and 5'-hydroxylornoxicam, respectively. The assay described has been successfully applied to samples from clinical studies.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal↗

Three-dimensional videomonitor in microsurgery.

The operation microscope was equipped with two small camera heads on both sides, with a 35-mm still camera, and with or without a binocular observer tube. These camera heads were connected with a 3-dimensional (3D) converter. The operator can observe the 3D images of the operation field on a TV monitor through polarization glasses. The microscope with two camera heads is easy to handle because these camera heads are small and light. This is a promising monitoring system for microsurgery.

Equipment Design↗